investigations
Last reviewed 01/2018
- MSU - a sterile pyuria, unless secondary bacterial infection has occurred
- collect 3 early morning specimens of urine (EMUS) on consecutive days:
- microscopy for acid-fast bacilli with Ziehl-Nielsen stain
- culture on Lowenstein-Jensen medium; takes 6 weeks
- tuberculin skin test - often positive in affected patients
- IVU / ultrasound - to assess extent of disease
- CXR - to exclude active pulmonary TB
- cystoscopy:
- in acute disease, reveals generalised cystitis and superficial granulations around ureteric orifices
- in chronic disease, fibrosis of the bladder results in bladder shrinkage and "golf-hole" ureteric orifices